Face pin for archery targets

ABSTRACT

A face pin for securing a target sheet to an archery target mat composed of a mass of oriented fibers. The pin is provided with two sets of linearly aligned ribs on opposed sides of a principal surface of a shaft of the pin, with the remainder of the principal surface being smooth. This structure allows the pin to be selectively readily secured to and removed from a target mat manually without auxiliary fastening means or tools.

United States Patent 1191 Saunders Nov. 12, 1974 [5 FACE PIN FOR ARCHERY TARGETS 1,818.93) 8/1931 Braiding 273/102 B 3,048,40l 8 1962 DJh 1 1 273 l02 B [75] Inventor g g Saunders Columbus 3.091.991 6ll963 115 44 x e r. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Abs'gnee' i zg' Archery Columbus 100.857 7/l9l6 Great 1211mm 1. 85/44 [22] Filed: July 5, 1973 Primary EraminerDonald A. Griffin [21 I App No: 371,821 Attorney, Agent, or Firn1l(cgan, Kegan & Berk-man 57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 24/153 R, 85/21, 273/102 B i f h 4 I h 151 1m. (:1. A44b 9/00, A63b 71/00 Pm tflrgetfs a [58] Field of Search 273/102 B, 102 s; 85/21, W3 F Q O a mass 9 meme. 8 85/44 24/150 P 150 A 153 R pm 15 provided with two sets of lmearly allgned ribs on opposed sides of a prmclpal surface of a shaft of the [6] References Cited pin, with the remainder of the principal surface being smooth. This structure allows the pin to be selectively UNITED STATES PATENTS readily secured to and removed from a target mat a ah 85/21 manually without auxiliary fastening means or tools. l l yers 85/21 l,4l7,l6l 5/1922 Fuegel et al. 85/21 ux 3 (Jams, 10 Drawmg Figures PATENIEUIIBYA! 2 1914 w av FACE PIN FOR ARCHERY TARGETS The present invention relates to devices for selectively securing and releasing archery target sheets in relation to a target mat of the type composed of a closely coiled mass of oriented fibers such as straw.

Prior art devices for securing archery target sheets to target mats have suffered from one or more serious disadvantages making them inconvenient to use for the purpose intended. For example, staples and nails which have heretofore been used usually require separate apparatus or instruments for securement and removal. The prior art devices are difficult to remove after they are applied, since their operation often depends upon application of auxiliary structures to the target mat.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a face pin for securing and releasing archery target sheets to target mats manually, without employing any other instruments or apparatus.

It is a related object of the invention to provide a face pin which interlocks directly with fibers of an archery target mat, without affixing any auxiliary structures thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a face pin which is manually shiftable between a first, relatively loose position in which the pin can be removed from an archery target mat with minimal effort, and a second, locked position in which the pin is interlocked with fibers of the target mat and in which removal requires considerably greater force than in the first position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a handle for a face pin which handle also serves as an indicator as to whether the pin is in a first, loose position or in a second, locked position.

An additional object of the invention isto provide a face pin for archery targets which is simple in construction and which can be fabricated from inexpensive materials.

Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an archery target mat in which four face pins of the invention are securing a target sheet to the mat;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the face pin of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the face pin of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken 0 the line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a face pin of the invention, in a position corresponding to positions A and B of FIG. 1, in which the pin can be removed from the target mat relatively freely;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a face pin of the invention, in a position corresponding to positions C and D of FIG. 1, in which the face pin is interlocked with fibers of the target mat;.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 99.

of FIG. 8; and I FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a face pin of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing there is shown in FIG. 1 an archery target mat 15 mounted on a display stand 16. The mat 15 is composed of straw fibers 17 packed closely in a spiral array of oriented fibers in the preferred embodiment shown. Other types of flexible fibers may be used in place of straw, so long as the fibers are maintained in substantial alignment with one another. The fibers define a series of narrow, spaced zones therebetween, the zones being adapted to receive thin probes such as face pins and arrows.

An archery target sheet 18 is secured to the target mat 15 by four face pins 20 of the invention, situated at each of the four corners A, B, C, D of the target sheet 18. The two face pins 20 fastening the upper portion of the sheet 18 to the mat 15 (in corners A and B) are in a first, readily removable or loose" position. The two face pins 20 fastening the lower portion of the sheet 18 to the mat 15 (in corners C and D) are in a second, secured or locked position. The face pins 20 are shiftable between their first and second positions by manually rotating them. The structural details of a preferred embodiment of a face pin 20 of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 2-5. Each pin 20 includes a shaft 22 integrally formed with a handle 23 at one axial extremity, and a pointed, mat-penetrating tip 24 at the opposite axial extremity. The preferred embodiment shown is manufactured from molded plastic, although metal, wood and other durable materials would also be suitable.

A plurality of axially spaced, discrete rib means or ribs or projections 25 extend radially outwardly of a principal surface of the shaft 22. The preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-5 includes two sets of opposed ribs 25 in linear alignment along a principal surface of the shaft 22, each set covering approximately one-fourth of the perimeter of the shaft 22. As shown in FIG. 4, the principal surface of the shaft 22 is also characterized by a pair of opposed smooth regions 26, each covering approximately one-fourth the perimeter of the shaft 22.

In the preferred embodiment shown the ribs 25 are narrow and generally V-shaped in transverse crosssection, resembling interrupted threads of a screw (See FIG. 5). The base of each rib 25 is widest at a center line 28 parallel to the principal axis of the shaft 22, narrowing symmetrically toward the two regions 26 free of projections. Each rib 25 is also slightly curved, so that the portion of each rib 25 in the center line 28 is spaced farther away from the handle 23 than portions of the ribs 25 adjacent the regions 26 free of projections (See FIG. 2). It is to be understood that ribs or projections of other sizes and shapes may also be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A second embodiment of the face pin is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this embodiment the ribs are discrete projections 25 arranged in two linearly aligned sets on opposite sides of the principal surface of the shaft 22 of the pin 20. Each set of projections 25 occupies approximately one-fourth the perimeter of the shaft 22. In this embodiment the projections 25 are small and conical and spaced annularly of one another within each set.

A- third embodiment of the face pin is illustrated in FIG. 10. The shaft 22 of this pin is formed with only one set of projections 25, spaced radially around approximately one-fourth the perimeter of the shaft 22. In this embodiment the projections 25 are spaced axially of one another in a linearly aligned set, as in FIG. 8.

The handle 23, which is substantially flat, as shown in FIG. 3, is oriented to extend in a plane defined by a pair of lines 27 parallel to the axis of the shaft 22, and centered on the two smooth regions 26 of the pin shaft 22.

The method of using the face pin 20 is demonstrated in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7. The tip 24 of a face pin 20 is inserted through the target sheet 18 and into the target mat with the handle 23 in radial alignment with the center 30 of the mat 15. In this first position, shown schematically in FIG. 6, projections 25 extending from a principal surface of the shaft 22 are substantially parallel to fibers 17 in the straw mat 15 so that the smooth regions 26 are presented to the straw fibers 17. The projections 25 fit into a zone 35 between the fibers 17, thereby substantially avoiding interlocking engagement of the fibers 17 with the pin 20. In this first position the handle 23 of the pin is in radial alignment with the center 30 of the target mat 17. Handles 23 in this position are shown in corners A and B of the target sheet 18 of FIG. 1.

The face pin 20 is locked into place by manually rotating the handle 23 one quarter turn to reach asecond position corresponding to C and D in FIG. 1. In this second, locked position the handles 23 are aligned substantially normal to radii originating-at the center 30 of the mat 15. As shown schematically in FIG. 7, in the second position the projections 25 are presented directly to fibers 17 of the mat 15, so that the fibers 17 and projections 25 thereby interengage and interlock with one another to secure the pin 20 in place.

Considerably greater physical force is required to remove the pin 20 from the mat 15 when the pin 20 is in its second position than when the pin 20 is in its first position. Actual tests has demonstrated that a force of 3 to 4 pounds will remove 'a pin from the mat when the pin is in its first position. After the same pin is rotated to its second or locked position, a force of to 40 pounds is required.

The foregoing description will suggest various changes and modifications which can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example; other sizes and shapes of projections may be used. It is also possible to change the orientation of the handle of the face pin with respect to the projections without affecting the usefulness of the handle as an indicator of whether the face pin is in a loose or locked position.

What is claimed is:

1. In an archery target assembly, the combination with a target mat including a mass of fibers oriented in a coiled array so that the fibers define a series of face pin receiving zones therebetween for interlocking engagement of face pins with said mat,

of a face pin operable selectively to secure a target sheet to and to release a target sheet from said target,said face pin comprising a mat-penetrating shaft defining a principal axis of said pin, and

rib means extending outwardly of a principal surface of said shaft and radially of said principal axis, said rib means extending around less than the entire perimeter of said shaft;

whereby said pin means interlocks with said fibers of said mat when said rib means projects toward said fibers and whereby said pin means is selectively readily removable from said mat when said rib means projects into said zones and substantially out of contact with said fibers.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said rib means constitutes a pair of discrete projections extending radially of said principalaxis at opposed principal surfaces of said shaft, each said projections extending around less than one-half the perimeter of said shaft, with the remainder of said principal surface comprising a pair of opposed regions free of said projections.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein each saidprojections extends around approximately one-fourth the perimeter of said shaft.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said rib means comprises an array of discrete projections spaced axially of one another along said shaft.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein said rib means comprises a discrete, thread-like projection generally V-shaped in transverse cross-section.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said face pin further comprises handle means formed integrally with said shaft at an axial extremity thereof.

7. A face pin for selectively securing a target sheet to and releasing a target sheet from a target mat of the type having a mass of oriented fibers, the fibers defining a series of spaced zones therebetween adapted to receive a probe therewithin for interlocking engagement with said fibers; said face pin comprising a mat-pentrating shaft defining a principal axis of said pin, and

rib means extending outwardly of a principal surface of said shaft and radially of said principal axis, said rib means comprising a plurality of discrete projections spaced annularly for one another and extending around less thanthe entire perimeter of said shaft;

whereby said pin means interlocks with said fibers of said mat when said rib means projects toward said fibers and whereby said pin means is selectively readily removable from said mat when said rib means projects into said zones and substantially out of contact with said fibers.

8. A face pin for selectively securing a target sheet to and releasing a target sheet from a target mat of the type having a mass of oriented fibers, the fibers defining a series of spaced zones therebetween adapted to receive a probe therewithin for interlocking engagement with said fibers; said face pin comprising a mat-penetrating shaft defining a principal axis of said pin;

rib means extending outwardly of a principal surface of said shaft and radially of said principal axis, said rib means extending around less than the entire perimeter of said shaft; and

handle means formed integrally with said shaft at an axial extremity thereof, said handle means being substantially flat and oriented generally parallel to a plane defined by a pair of lines parallel to said shaft and extending mid-way through each said regions free of said projections;

whereby said pin means interlocks with said fibers of said mat when said rib means projects toward said fibers and whereby said pins means is selectively readily removable from said mat when said rib means projects into said zones and substantially out of contact with said fibers. 

1. In an archery target assembly, the combination with a target mat including a mass of fibers oriented in a coiled array so that the fibers define a series of face pin receiving zones therebetween for interlocking engagement of face pins with said mat, of a face pin operable selectively to secure a target sheet to and to release a target sheet from said target, said face pin comprising a mat-penetrating shaft defining a principal axis of said pin, and rib means extending outwardly of a principal surface of said shaft and radially of said principal axis, said rib means extending around less than the entire perimeter of said shaft; whereby said pin means interlocks with said fibers of said mat when said rib means projects toward said fibers and whereby said pin means is selectively readily removable from said mat when said rib means projects into said zones and substantially out of contact with said fibers.
 1. In an archery target assembly, the combination with a target mat including a mass of fibers oriented in a coiled array so that the fibers define a series of face pin receiving zones therebetween for interlocking engagement of face pins with said mat, of a face pin operable selectively to secure a target sheet to and to release a target sheet from said target, said face pin comprising a mat-penetrating shaft defining a principal axis of said pin, and rib means extending outwardly of a principal surface of said shaft and radially of said principal axis, said rib means extending around less than the entire perimeter of said shaft; whereby said pin means interlocks with said fibers of said mat when said rib means projects toward said fibers and whereby said pin means is selectively readily removable from said mat when said rib means projects into said zones and substantially out of contact with said fibers.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said rib means constitutes a pair of discrete projections extending radially of said principal axis at opposed principal surfaces of said shaft, each said projections extending around less than one-half the perimeter of said shaft, with the remainder of said principal surface comprising a pair of opposed regions free of said projections.
 3. The combination of claim 2, wherein each said projections extends around approximately one-fourth the perimeter of said shaft.
 4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said rib means comprises an array of discrete projections spaced axially of one another along said shaft.
 5. The combination of claim 1, wherein said rib means comprises a discrete, thread-like projection generally V-shaped in transverse cross-section.
 6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said face pin further comprises handle means formed integrally with said shaft at an axial extremity thereof.
 8. A face pin for selectively securing a target sheet to and releasing a target sheet from a target mat of the type having a mass of oriented fibers, the fibers defining a series of spaced zones therebetween adapted to receive a probe therewithin for interlocking engagement with said fibers; said face pin comprising a mat-penetrating shaft defining a principal axis of said pin; rib means extending outwardly of a principal surface of said shaft and radially of said principal axis, said rib means extending around less than the entire perimeter of said shaft; and handle means formed integrally with said shaft at an axial extremity thereof, said handle means being substantially flat and oriented generally parallel to a plane defined by a pair of lines parallel to said shaft and extending mid-way through each said regions free of said projections; whereby said pin means interlocks with said fibers of said mat when said rib means projects toward said fibers and whereby said pins means is selectively readily removable from said mat when said rib means projects into said zones and substantially out of contact with said fibers. 